Japan govt. approves new 5-year plan to create disaster-resilient infrastructure
The Japanese government has approved a new infrastructure plan aimed at enhancing disaster prevention and preparedness measures over a five-year period starting next April.
The plan was approved at Friday's Cabinet meeting. It calls for more than 20 trillion yen, or about 139 billion dollars, to be spent on projects, including the repair and replacement of water supply pipes and sewage pipes.
This comes after a series of cave-ins occurred across the country. Old sewage pipes apparently caused the cave-ins. One massive sinkhole opened up in the city of Yashio, which is located near Tokyo.
Under the plan, sewer pipes with a diameter of at least 2 meters that were installed 30 or more years ago will be replaced by fiscal 2030, if they are deemed to be at high risk of rupturing.
Water pipes that are at least 80 centimeters in diameter and are considered to be at high risk of leaking will be replaced by fiscal 2041.
Also under the plan, officials will focus on improving the accuracy of systems designed to predict the formation of bands of heavy rainclouds and typhoons. The plan calls for tsunami evacuation facilities to be provided as well.
The enhancement of transportation networks in peninsulas and other places is among the other projects in the plan. This comes after a major earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day in 2024.
Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru said ahead of the Cabinet meeting that he hopes the relevant government agencies will work closely together, so that the country can become more resilient.
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